When rumours emerged in late 2014 that award-winning tapas restaurant El Gato Negro would be relocating from Ripponden to King Street, it caused a foodie stir. However, with backers in tow, chef-patron Simon Shaw was able to push the boat out with his new venture. Over a year in the making, the immaculately fitted out restaurant, cocktail lounge and tapas bar occupies three floors on the pedestrianised part of south King Street. A little over a month after opening and it seems that Shaw’s ambition is paying dividends: weekends are reportedly booked up for over a month in advance. When we visited on a Wednesday night there was a healthy buzz: the middle floor (pictured) was full, while the ground floor offered a bustling and informal dining-and-drinks setting. The roof top cocktail lounge – The Black Cat – boasts a retractable roof and the Boulevardier, a cocktail served in a glass pipe while Para Picar – or ‘nibbles’ – are available on all floors. This includes tapas classics such as Padrón peppers, plus sourdough, olive oil and Pedro Ximénez balsamic – with the Spanish grape variety a theme across the menu. On the main restaurant menu, highlights included the rack of baby pork ribs glazed with – you guessed it – Pedro Ximénez sherry, which fell apart under a fork, as well as tender lamb skewers and tiger prawns with chilli, garlic, lemon and paprika. Our feast was topped off with mini doughnuts with hot chocolate sauce and poached Yorkshire rhubarb with crumble topping and vanilla cream, reminiscent of a trifle. The wine list is predominantly Spanish, as you’d expect, with one or two Portuguese and French options thrown in for good measure. An adventurous and classy new arrival that works for any occasion.
El Gato Negro, 52 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LY, Tel: 0161 694 8585, www.elgatonegrotapas.com
- Words:
- Chris Horkan
- Published on:
- Mon 4 Apr 2016
